BodyMaps

Masseter

The masseter muscle
is a facial muscle that plays a major role in the chewing of solid foods. The
muscle is shaped similar to a parallelogram, connecting to the mandible (lower
jawbone) and the cheekbone.

The masseter is divided into two distinct sections, the
"superficial" and "deep" portions. The superficial portion
of the masseter is the thick and tendon-like portion of the muscle that
connects to the cheekbone, while the deep portion is the smaller and more
muscular portion of the muscle that connects to the mandible.

During chewing, the masseter is assisted by three other
muscles: the temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid. The four
muscles work together to pull the jaw down and back up again. The masseter is
the key muscle that pulls the mandible upward. All four muscles are connected
to a single division of the trigeminal nerve.

Because of the sheer bulk of the masseter muscle,
portions of it are sometimes removed by plastic surgeons performing jaw
reduction surgery. Individuals who grind their teeth while sleeping may develop
squared jaws as a result of the masseter growing due to the additional exercise
it receives over time.

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